State, federal agencies raid doctor's office

Tuesday

May 22, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 22, 2007 at 10:20 PM

Needham's Dr. Joseph Zolot, who boasted of unique pain-relief techniques, had his office searched by law enforcement officials — including the Drug Enforcement Agency — last week, reportedly in response to claims the doctor subscribed unnecessary medication to patients.

Steven Ryan

A Needham doctor, who boasted of unique pain-relief techniques, had his office searched by law enforcement officials — including the Drug Enforcement Agency — last week, reportedly in response to claims the doctor subscribed unnecessary medication to patients.

Fox 25 News, which was already working on an investigative piece on Zolot, reported the search was in response to allegations that the doctor was prescribing drugs to patients who did not need them, citing a law enforcement official. An official was also cited as saying patient files were confiscated from the office.

A former patient, who didn’t want to be identified, told Fox 25 Zolot prescribed him methadone and oxycodone for a back injury.

Zolot was not arrested, and the U.S. Attorney’s office and the DEA said they could not comment on the investigation unless charges are pressed. Zolot also would not comment on the investigation, following his attorney’s advice.

Zolot was featured in a Needham Times article last month, which described the doctor’s unusual pain relief techniques, such as injections of Sarapin, a pitcher plant extract, and Hyalagan, liquid cartilage from rooster combs.

A commenter on the Needham Times blog, who only identified himself as one of Zolot’s patients, defended the doctor.

“Dr. Zolot helps patients manage their pain,” the poster wrote. “It is unfortunate that Doctor Zolot’s reputation is being compromised due to drug addicts that use him as their scapegoat.”

Zolot graduated in 1974 from medical school in the former Soviet Union with a degree in trauma and orthopedic surgery. He was a surgeon until 1987, when he immigrated to the United States at the age of 38. Since his degree was not recognized in the States, Zolot retrained in rehab medicine, focusing on the muscular-skeletal field. Since 1995, Zolot has solely provided outpatient care for people with orthopedic problems. He’s spent the past 4 1/2 years in Needham.